Floating breakwater.



No. 817,904. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. T. D. 000K. FLOATING BREAKWATBE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1905.

THOMAS DIXON COOK, OF GLENDON-TORQUAY, ENGLAND.

FLOATING BREAKWATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1906.

Application filed July 17, 1905- Serial No. 270,127.

To all whom, it may concern: I

Be it known that I, THoMAs DIXON COOK, a subject of the King of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at Glendon-Torquay, in the county ofDevon, England, have invented a certain new and useful FloatingBreakwater, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to breakwaters.

It is well understood that when the sea, at all events near the land, isagitated by storms the disturbance of the water does not as a ruleextend to a greater depth than about fifteen feet. I have found that Ican break the violence of the sea by the use of a floating breakwaterconsisting of a series of frames made of wood or iron, or of both, wellcrossbraced, and that solid structures such as the usual breakwaters areunnecessary.

My invention consists in the use of a floating breakwater consisting offloating frames so buoyed and moored that the frames normally slopetoward the sea, but can be moved so that they slope toward the land bythe action of the waves. The frames are floated by buoys, pontoons, orhollow cylinders of which all or the greater part are preferably placedon the side of the frame nearest to the land, so as to tilt said frametoward the sea.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which is a vertical sectionillustrating diagrammaticallyone of the frames of my breakwater, theframes a are preferably of such length that they reach nearly to thesea-bed (represented by the line b) and are preferably moored by longchains 0, extending nearly parallel with the sea-bed both on the landand sea side to moorings d. The frames a are floated at the sea-surfaceg by pontoons e, of which all or the greater part are placed. on theside of the frame which is nearest to the land, so as to tilt the frametoward the sea side. The frames should be constructed of such weight anddensity that while floating they nevertheless insure steadiness ofmovement. When a wave strikes a frame which is leaning toward it, theframe will be driven back and at the same time working on itsmooring-chains, as a doorworks on its hinges, will incline toward theland side, thus gradually breaking the force of the waves. The framesmust be made of such lengths and depths as to be able to resist theviolence of the waves and are most effective when about one hundredyards in length.

In arranging my breakwater I prefer to arrange the series of frames intwo lines one behind the other, sufflcient space being left be-.

tween adjacent frames in each line and between the lines to avoidpossibility of the frames coming into collision, and by preference theframes in the inner line are arranged to come opposite the spacesbetween the frames in the front line. On the inner or land side of eachframe I preferably attach a horizontal floating network f, of wood oriron, to break up any sea that may come over the frames.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A floating breakwater, comprising in combination, floating frames,moorings attached at the lower ends of said frames, and floating meansattached at the upper ends of said frames, at one side thereof as setforth.

2. A floating breakwater, comprising in combination, floating framesmoorings attached. at the lower ends of said frames, float.

ing means attached at the upper ends of said frames, at one side thereofand a horizontal floating framework moored to said frames on the landside, as set forth.

3. A floating breakwater, comprising in combination, floating frames,long mooring means attached at the lower ends of said frames, floatingmeans attached to the upper ends of said frames, at one side thereofsaid mooring means being approximately horizontal, as set forth.

4. A floatin breakwater, comprising in combination, oating frames,moorings attached at the lower ends of said frames, and floating meansattached at the upper ends of said frames, said means causing saidframes to normally slope toward the sea, said frames being free to slopetoward the land, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS DIXON COOK.

Witnesses:

THEODORE FOSTER, FnANoIs E. SAVAGE.

